Soft Power: theoretical framework and political foundations

• Authors: De Martino Mario

Title variants

PL

Miękka Siła: ramy teoretyczne i podstawy polityczne

• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Although 30 years have passed since it was first formulated by the American political scientist Joseph Nye Jr, experts in international relations still debate on the contribution that soft power can give in foreign policy. This article aims to analyse the epistemological framework of soft power since its elaboration over the years till now. The research delves into two essential angles of soft power. The former is the study on the relevance of the concept of soft power in the current political dynamics. The latter is the definition of the idea of soft power with a focus on the evolution of such an idea since it was formulated by Joseph Nye Jr. The academic debate around the concept of soft power can be summarised mostly around four points: (1) the definition of soft power, (2) the relationship between hard and soft power; (3) resources and behaviours generating soft power; (4) the actors involved, when we speak about soft power. In the political debate of the last few years, some political scientists and practitioners have raised doubts about relevance and effectiveness of soft power in the current international political dynamics. However, the COVID-19 pandemic, which is reshaping the global order, is demonstrating that deploying effective public diplomacy is still crucial in international relations.

PL

Choć minęło 30 lat, odkąd koncepcja „miękkiej siły” (ang. soft power) została sformułowana przez amerykańskiego politologa Josepha Nye’a Jr, eksperci w stosunkach międzynarodowych nadal debatują na temat wkładu, jaki soft power może wnieść w politykę zagraniczną. Niniejszy artykuł ma na celu analizę ram epistemologicznych „miękkiej siły” od opracowania tej koncepcji na przestrzeni lat. Badanie obejmuje dwa zasadnicze aspekty „miękkiej siły”. Pierwsze z nich to studium na temat znaczenia koncepcji „miękkiej siły” w obecnej dynamice politycznej. Drugą jest analiza definicji „miękkiej siły” z uwzględnieniem ewolucji tej idei od czasu jej sformułowania przez Josepha Nye'a Debata akademicka dot. koncepcji „miękkiej siły” ogniskuje się głównie wokół czterech punktów: (1) definicja „miękkiej siły”, (2) związek między twardą i miękką siłą; (3) zasoby i zachowania generujące „miękką siłę”; (4) zaangażowani aktorzy, gdy mówimy o „miękkiej sile”. W debacie politycznej ostatnich kilku lat niektórzy politolodzy i praktycy wyrazili wątpliwości co do znaczenia i skuteczności „miękkiej siły” w obecnej międzynarodowej dynamice politycznej. Jednak pandemia COVID-19, która zmienia światowy porządek, pokazuje, że stosowanie skutecznej dyplomacji publicznej jest nadal kluczowe w stosunkach międzynarodowych.

Keywords

EN

Soft power; foreign policy; public diplomacy

PL

„miękka siła”; polityka zagraniczna; dyplomacja publiczna

• Publisher: Wydział Nauk Politycznych i Studiów Międzynarodowych, Uniwersytet Warszawski
• Journal: Przegląd Europejski
• Year: 2020
• Issue: 4(58)
• Pages: 11-24

Dates

published

2020

Contributors

author

De Martino Mario

• Peoples' Friendship University of Russia

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